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A Fight Atop White Rock Lake’s Boy Scout Hill

DALLAS (CBS 11 News) – A battle is brewing over plans to build a restaurant/bar and parking lot in White Rock Lake.

Developers press forward with these plans while opponents say that would damage the natural habitat and increase noise and traffic.

The new restaurant and bar, accompanied by a large parking lot, would sit atop Boy Scout Hill near Mockingbird Lane and Buckner Boulevard.

The hill is a popular spot to fly a kite, relax and enjoy the outdoors. It’s one of the best views in Dallas, with the downtown skyline in the distance.

“There’s thousands of restaurants in Dallas. I don’t know why you’d want to build another one here. I just like coming out here because it’s just peaceful,” Dallas resident Cynthia Ouellette said.

Ouellette said she has spent many days out here – including her birthday – enjoying the peace and quiet.

But that could soon change, as the hill is planned to morph into a space for 160 cars and a 6,000 square foot deck.

A number of citizens have put together a website with a petition to save Boy Scout Hill, CBS 11’s Stephanie Lucero is told.

“It’s park land. It’s well over 100 years old. Some rare prairie remnants… but the bigger issue is we don’t want commercialization in the park. We don’t want a restaurant,” Ted Barker of SaveBoyScoutHill.org said.

The group says they have 1,500 signatures so far, and they are canvassing the surrounding area with leaflets and yard signs to get more.

The group has met with the architect, but the project has not yet been presented to the park board or the city council for the necessary zoning change.